Lc m 

1115 
Copy 3 






FOR PUBLICATION 



Department of Commerce 

l(%, BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 

WASHINGTON 

ILLITERACY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce has 
just published a table giving the percentages of illiteracy in most of 
the principal countries of the world, the figures having been brought 
as nearly up to date as the available sources of information permit. 

Illiteracy statistics of different countries are not always strictly 
comparable, because the basis is not always the same. Quite gener- 
ally, however, the percentage of illiteracy here given is based upon 
the total population over 10 years of age, which is the basis in the 
United States, but sometimes it is necessary to accept some other age 
limit, and in several countries the only available figures refer to 
illiteracy among army recruits or to that shown by the marriage 
records. 

In the United States the percentage of illiteracy is 7.7 for the total 
population (over 10 years of age) and 3 for the native white popu- 
"•ation. In Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzer- 
land, and the United Kingdom the percentage of illiteracy is lower 
than that for the native white population of the United States. 
Doubtless the list should also include Norway, although no figures 
are available for that country; but in the other European countries 
the percentage of illiteracy is higher than it is in the United States, 
and usually very much higher. In Bulgaria it is 65 per cent; in 
Greece 70, in Hungary 33, in Italy 37, in Portugal 69, in Koumania 
61, in Russia 69, in Servia 79, and in Spain 58. There is less illit- 
eracy in Australia than in the United States, but in all other non- 
European countries the percentage of illiteracy is in general very high. 

73899—15 



(Uj^J 3 



.' 



ILLITERACY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The term "illiterate," as used in the table below, includes all persons unable to 
write their own language, except in the case of figures marked with an asterisk (*), 
where the basis is inability to read. In some instances, however, the figures for 
army recruits are taken from Otto Hubner's Geographisch-Statistische Tabellen for 
.1913, in which the use of the term "illiteracy" is not in most cases defined. 



EITROPE. 



Austria.. 
Belgium. 

Bulgaria. 



Denmark 

England and Wales. 

France 



German Empire. 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 



Italy . 



Maltese Islands. . 
The Netherlands . 

Portugal 

Prussia 



Roumania. 



Russia . . 
Scotland . 



Servia . 



Spain 

Sweden 

Switzerland 

United Kingdom. 



Per cent 
illiterate. 



13.7 

«12. 7 

7.9 

65.5 

25.4 

58.4 

0.2 

1.8 

14.1 

4.3 

4.1 

&0. 05 

<=57. 2 

30.0 

^33.3 

*9.2 

8.1 

*37.0 

o31.1 

38.7 

*57. 5 

/0. 8 

2.2 

■0 68.9 

&0.02 

0.4 

/60.6 

C41.0 

^69.0 

>>61.7 

1.6 

78.9 

43.4 

36.7 

58.7 

0.2 

*0.3 

1.0 



Basis. 



Population over 11 years 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Army recruits 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Population over 6 years 

Population over 9 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 5 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 7 years 

Army recruits 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 11 years 

Army recruits 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Army recruits 

Army recruits 

Armv recruits 



Year. 



1910 

1910 

1913 

1905 

1909 
1901-10 

1907 
1901-10 

1906 

1912 
1901-10 

1912 

1907 
No date. 

1910 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 

1910 
1901-10 

1901 

1912 
1901-10 

1911 

1910 
1901-10 

1909 

1911 

1897 

1894 
1901-10 

1900 

1911 
1901-10 

1900 

1911 

1911 
1903-04 



(See notes on page 4.) 
(2) 

MA* i® t920. 



AMERICA. 

Continental United States: 

Total population 

Native white 

Native parentage 

Foreign or mixed parentage 

Foreign-born white 

Negro 

Indian 

Chinese 

Japanese 

Argentina 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

British Honduras 

Canada 

Chile.. 

Colombia 

Costa Rica 

Cuba 

Guatemala 

Mexico 

Newfoundland 

Porto Rico 

Uruguay 

AUSTRALIA. 

Commonwealth of Australia 

New South Wales 

New Zealand 

Queensland 

South Australia 

Tasmania 

Victoria 

Western Australia 

ASIA AND OCEANIA. 



Ceylon : 

All races 

European race 

Other than European . 

India 

Philippine Islands 

Russia .' 

Hawaii 




7.7 

3.0 

3.7 

1.1 

12.7 

30.4 

45.3 

15.8 

9.2 

54.4 

82.9 

85.2 

68.8 

11.0 

*49. 9 

*73.0 

80.2 

*43. 4 

92.7 

70.7 

45.8 

66.5 

a 39. 8 



*)1. 8 
*i2.0 

1.0 
**0.9 

0.3 

*;'2.5 

2.0 

*n.8 

0.8 
*>'3.3 

2.4 
*il.l 

0.4 

*n.6 

0.6 



78.3 

11.9 

78.4 

*92. 1 

"»55. 5 

«87. 3 

26.8 



10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 

6 years. 

7 years. 



5 years. 
10 years 



10 years 



Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 

All ages 

All ages 

Population over 
Population over 
Males of all ages 

All ages 

Population over 

All ages 

Population over 
Population over 
Population over 
Population over 



Population over 10 years 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Marriage-;. 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 

Population over 10 years 

Marriages 



12 years 
5 years. 
10 years 
5 years. 



All ages 

All ages 

All ages 

Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 



1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1910 
1895 
1900 
1890 
1901 
1911 
1907 
1912 
1892 
1907 
1893 
1910 
1901 
1910 
1908 



1911 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 

1911 
1901-10 



1901 
1901 
1901 
1911 
1903 
1897 
1910 



(See notes on page 4.) 



Percent 
illiterate. 



029 498 565 7 



Basis. 



AFRICA. 

Algeria 

Cape of Good Hope: 

All races 

European race 

Other than European 

Egypt 

Natal: 

All races 

European race 

Other than European. 
Orange Free State: 

All races 

European race . . ^ 

Other than European 
Transvaal: 

All races 

European race 

Other than European 
Union of South Africa: 

All races 

European race 

Other than European 



13.0 

64.0 
3.8 

82.8 
= 92.7 

86.7 
1.6 

94.8 

58.0 

2.7 
85.8 

69.4 

2.5 

91.1 



69. 
3. 



Army recruits. 



Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 

Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 

Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 

Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 

Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 
Population over 10 years. 



Year. 



1912 

1911 
1911 
1911 
1907 

1911 
1911 
1911 

1911 
1911 
1911 

1911 
1911 
1911 

1911 
1911 
1911 



a Based on number unable to read and write. 

6 Based on number without schooling. 

c Based on number illiterate; but this term is not denned in the census report. 

d Based on number over 6 not reported as able to read and write. 

e Native Maltese population. 

/ Based on number unable either to read or write. 

e Including Azores and Madeira. 

h Exclusive of Finland. 

i Based on number without any proficiency in writing. 

i Exclusive of full-blooded aboriginals. 

fc Exclusive of Maoris and Chinese and of population of annexed Pacific islands. 

l Illiteracy, as here used, represents inability to write a letter to a friend and read his reply. 

m Civilized population. 

« Caucasia, Siberia, and Central Asia. 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1815 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS % 

029 498 565 7 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH8.5 



